SEATAC – A renowned Asian antiquities expert, indicted in Los Angeles in connection with a federal investigation into illegal trafficking of pilfered Southeast Asian art, has died in custody at the Federal Detention Center in SeaTac.

Roxanna Brown, the director of the Southeast Asian Ceramics Museum at Bangkok University in Thailand, was found dead around 2:30 a.m., said FDC spokeswoman Maggie Ogden.

Brown was arrested at her hotel last Friday as she prepared to have dinner with colleagues from the University of Washington, where she was scheduled to speak Saturday, according to news reports.

Ogden said the cause of Brown’s death is under investigation. Brown had complained of being ill after her arrest and her scheduled appearance before a U.S. magistrate Monday was postponed because she didn’t feel well. Emily Langlie, the spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney’s office in Seattle, said Brown was able to appear in court Tuesday and that her extradition to Los Angeles to answer the charges was pending.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Johns, the Los Angeles prosecutor heading the illegal antiquities investigation, said Brown was “one of many targets” of the probe. He declined to say how her death would affect the investigation.

Brown, 62, who lived in Bangkok, was indicted on a single count of wire fraud for allegedly allowing her electronic signature to be used on appraisal forms of items donated to museums. Those appraisals, according to court documents, were inflated so that the donors could claim fraudulent tax deductions.

SOURCE:

• The Seattle Times

A SeaTac man was arrested in a major drug bust Friday in Burien.

Rigoberto Sabalsa-Lozano, 43,  was manager of a Burien restaurant called the El Flamingo, which apparently served as headquarters for a major drug operation.

A 10-month investigation by a law enforcement team, dubbed Operation “Pink Tiger,” resulted in several arrests and the seizure of about 40 pounds of cocaine, a pound of heroin, guns, methamphetamine and about $240,000 in cash.

The operation was a joint effort carried out by the King County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Six suspects were arrested late Thursday and charged today with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine. The arrests bring to 17 the total number of defendants charged in the case. One charged defendant remains a fugitive.

The operation took it’s name from the original target of the probe, who went by the nickname “Tigre,” and the fact that cocaine was wrapped in distinctive pink cellophane.

The first arrests and indictments in the case occurred in late March 2008, with the arrest of 10 people for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and heroin.

This investigation used court-authorized wiretaps, which were left in place even after the first round of arrests. The wiretaps lead to additional evidence which resulted in the additional arrests.

Last night, law enforcement executed seven search warrants and seized more than 16 kilos of cocaine, three guns and more than $203,000 in cash. Four cars also were seized.

An additional person was arrested for involvement in the drug conspiracy, but later was released when he was found to be a juvenile.

Eight search warrants were served on March 25, which resulted in ten arrests, seizure of two kilos of cocaine and a pound of heroin. In addition law enforcement seized three guns, eight cars and $40,000 in cash.

The drug-trafficking organization was based in Burien and had direct ties to Sinaloa, Mexico, said Special Agent-in-Charge Arnold R. Moorin.

“The organization was large, well-established and was distributing more than 30 kilograms of cocaine per month in the greater Seattle area, Moorin said.

Domingo Bailon-Yanez, 30, of Burien, was identified as the alleged leader of that distribution ring. El Flamingo Restaurant is owned by a relative of Bailon-Yanez, and both the manager of the restaurant, Rigoberto Sabalsa-Lozano, 43, of SeaTac, and bartender Carla Rodriguez-Romero, 26, of Kent, have been charged in the case.

Conspiracy to distribute the amounts of drugs involved in this case is punishable by a mandatory minimum 10 years to life in prison and a $4 million fine.

Use of a juvenile to facilitate a drug crime can add an enhancement to the sentencing range, under federal law.

SOURCE:

• KOMO News

SEATAC – Police in SeaTac arrested a man for the April 13 shooting death at a Dr. Dre book signing after-party in Tukwila, and today charges of second-degree murder and assault were filed by King County prosecutors.

Lovelychild “Freddie Mac” James Manuel (yes, that’s his real name) is in jail on $1 million bail.

Manuel is scheduled to be arraigned on May 8 at the Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent.

Devon Guidry was shot and killed and Paul Dervin was wounded by gunfire outside Gordon’s on the Green restaurant at Foster Golf Links, where a party had been held for the authors of the Dr. Dre biography

Witnesses told police that Manuel shot Guidry in the back of the head after an argument. He then fled in an SUV driven from the scene by another man.

Following the shooting, police received several anonymous tips that Manuel had been involved in the shooting and was planning to leave the state.

On Monday, King County prosecutors charged Manuel with second-degree murder and second-degree assault, both with firearm enhancements. He is being held in the Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent on $1 million bail and is scheduled to be arraigned May 8.

If convicted as charged, Manuel, who has two previous felony convictions, faces 23 to 32 years in prison.

SOURCE:

• The Seattle Times

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SEATAC – Hazmat teams cordoned off several suitcases at SeaTac Airport today when they discoverd eaking baggage.

It turned out to be Mexican food.

An airport spokesman says a sick man arrived overnight from Puerto Vallarta aboard an Alaska Airlines flight, and had to be taken to the hospital.

The medics didn’t get his bags, so they were set out at the baggage area all night and started leaking.

Crews in hazmat suits taped off the area to investigate, only to find that the man had packed tamales and chile in the bags.

It’s not immediately clear why the man got sick.

SOURCE:

• KTVB News

SEATAC – Surveillance video was release by the King County Sheriff’s Office Tuesday that shows a man standing in a hallway outside the Lowfare Fly Travel Agency, which was robbed Saturday.

Sheriff’s officials are requesting that anyone who recognizes the man in the freeze-frame above contact them immediately at (206) 296-4155.

Apparently the suspect was armed with a semi-automatic pistol that he used to rob an employee and steal cash, a cell phone and credit cards.

Anyone who recognizes the man is asked to call the King County Sheriff’s Department immediately.

SOURCE:

• KIRO News